If I am hurt while being arrested in Los Angeles, can I sue the police?

17 Oct 2015

Being a police officer in Los Angeles can be an extremely difficult job, even under the best of circumstances. The jobs of police officers often involve violence. In many cases, force is necessary and justified on the part of the police officer.

In some cases, however, police officers do abuse their power. When that happens, the police must be held accountable. In some situations, the agency or governmental entity that the police officer works for can be held legally liable, particularly if it failed to properly screen potential officers before hiring them, or if it failed to properly train law enforcement officers. In the past several years, there have been several incidents that made nationwide news in which police officers used or allegedly used excessive force, which in some cases resulted in riots.

There are a variety of actions that can constitute wrongful conduct by police. Those actions include shootings, sexual assaults, the use of excessive force when apprehending a suspect, false imprisonment, and other types of wrongful actions. In recent years, it has become easier to prove that police brutality occurred because of the widespread use of smart phones, which can record such incidents.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of police brutality, you should contact an attorney as quickly as possible. Time limitations apply, and the longer you wait the more difficult it may be to bring a case. Call me, Los Angeles civil rights attorney Conal Doyle, at 310-385-0567. I will provide you with a free consultation on your case.